If it’s better to try and fail than not trying at all, why are people poking fun at former Sprinter Usain Bolt’s failed run at a football career? They must have forgotten that this is the same man who started out playing Cricket! He could easily have stuck with that but he tried Athletics and look how that turned out! Eleven-time World Champion and Nine-time Olympic Gold Medallist all because he pushed himself, so pardon Bolt for attempting to realize yet another dream. May not have worked out but at least he won’t spend the rest of his life wondering what might have been because he actually tried, unlike many of us who’re too afraid or too lazy to venture out of our comfort zones. Is it worth it? What if it doesn’t work out? What will people say? Bolt appears to have blocked all the negativity and I commend him for that. I’ve always said I’d like to retire young but I’m starting to wonder if that’s not one of those things we say in passing without really giving thought to the process. For instance, what would I do with all that time? I don’t really have an issue with people who switch careers. When one dream ends, chase another. Arnold Schwarzenegger, David and Victoria Beckham are some notable examples that you can pursue “new” or different career paths and actually succeed but you can’t know unless you try! For most conventional careers, you can work well into your 60s or even 70s. Teachers, doctors, engineers…It’s different for athletes though, many of whom are “forced” to hang up their boots way too soon for medical or other reasons. Only recently, Britain’s Andy Murray was in tears as he announced his pending retirement and who can forget the grim verdict following Fabrice Muamba’s Cardiac Arrest in 2012? He was only 24 when Doctors told him he couldn’t play anymore. Sport requires discipline and round the clock training and often, these athletes start young and it’s all they know so the prospect of retirement must be daunting and I suspect that’s why some hang on as long as they do. Michael Jordan came out of retirement a couple of times. Tiger Woods, The Williams Sisters and Roger Federer are constantly reminded of how “old” they’re and asked when they plan to retire and I’m not saying I haven’t pondered those questions too but that’s besides the point! I don’t think they’re still in it just for the money. I think it’s passion. When you’re good at something, why give it up, right? Of course there’s the argument that if people stay too long, they deny younger talent opportunities and a spot on the Team, which is true I guess, after all we complain about ageing Civil Servants and Politicians hogging jobs yet we have so many younger unemployed prospects! All the more reason we should commend those willing to try something different. Thierry Henry’s Managerial stint has been challenging but it’s only been a couple of months. He needs time and I hope he ignores the non-constructive criticism. Success doesn’t come overnight for everyone!
